I grew up on a farm in west Wales and have always had an interest in the built environment and how buildings function (a trait I inherited from my handy Dad!), so a career in surveying was something I had always considered.
Following my undergraduate Geography degree at Swansea University, I completed a Master's in Sustainability, Planning and Environmental Policy at Cardiff University, which opened the door to a career in surveying. When I saw the trainee building surveyor role at Cooke & Arkwright, I felt it was an incredible opportunity. The fact it is the largest independent property consultancy in Wales particularly appealed to me. I applied whilst backpacking through south-east Asia and Australia and subsequently had my first interview in Bali, Indonesia, a good way to make myself memorable!
At Cooke & Arkwright I feel supported and recognised for the work I do. The collaboration between departments, with everyone willing to help one another, has enabled me to develop a broader and more well-rounded knowledge base beyond the areas typically associated with building surveying alone. What really drew me to this role is the diverse range of work, with a good mix of office-based administration and reporting alongside days on site carrying out surveys in a variety of locations, from city centres to national parks. I have already learnt so much, all whilst keeping my post-backpacking tan up during the recent heatwaves!
Having just completed three months at the firm, I have been lucky enough to be a part of a real range of projects and surveying jobs - from pre-acquisition surveys and dilapidations work to project management for office fitouts and planned preventative maintenance surveys. What surprised me most about the role, especially as a more commercially oriented department, is that knowing the condition of a building’s fabric is simply a small fraction of the work we do as building surveyors. Being able to advise and liaise with a plethora of clients and contractors, alongside having good communication skills, is critical, a skill I feel I have already developed so much from my first day here. Developing technical skills, such as creating CAD drawings and navigating a drone, has also been interesting and is something I have been able to focus on during my first few months. Alongside this, I have been able to attend lunchtime CPD sessions and training events which have supported my professional development.
Hanna with other trainee surveyors at Cooke & Arkwright. From left to right; Rhun, Hanna, Tirion, Sebastian and Samuel.
An aspect I’ve particularly enjoyed during my time at the firm is being involved in activities outside of day-to-day work. I have been lucky enough to be part of a great team of fellow graduates from different departments and have attended networking events with other young professionals outside the firm across the property and professional services sector. These experiences alongside lunchtime CPD sessions, have been invaluable, allowing me to build relationships with peers and gain insight into the APC process. Within the firm, the social committee also organises a great variety of events, from darts to bake sales, which have been a great way to get to know colleagues as a newcomer.
I’m proud of the fact that most of our work is based in Wales. As a Welsh speaker, I was pleasantly surprised by the number of Welsh speakers within the firm, which made the transition from previous workplaces, where I spoke predominantly in Welsh, seamless. I have also come across instances where knowing Welsh has been useful to communicate with tenants and contractors, reinforcing how valuable the language can be in building relationships across the communities and clients we work with.
Looking ahead, I am eager to continue developing my experience by taking on more independent work, assisting on a greater variety of projects and beginning the APC journey towards chartership.
To find out more about working at Cooke and Arkwright go to careers or watch the video below:
